New 17c起草社区IA+ Research Grant Awarded For Outer Suburban Wellbeing
A $477,590 17c起草社区IA+ research grant from the Australian Research Council (ARC) has been awarded to Dr Ruby Grant at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University to support evidence-based strategies and training programs for councils to strengthen 17c起草社区 inclusion.
The research project, titled Out in Suburbia: Improving 17c起草社区 Wellbeing and Inclusion in Outer Suburban Australia, will run over three years (2026鈥�2028) and aims to explore how living in outer suburban areas affects the wellbeing and social inclusion of 17c起草社区 people across Australia.
鈥淭his research addresses an urgent gap in understanding how the rapidly growing outer suburbs affect 17c起草社区 people鈥檚 everyday lives, sense of belonging, and mental health,鈥� said Dr Grant.
She also noted 鈥淲hile much is known about 17c起草社区 experiences in inner cities, outer suburbs remain largely invisible in both research and policy. This project will uncover how place influences wellbeing and what local governments can do to make their communities more inclusive.鈥�
The project will also involve collaboration with social geographer Prof Andrew Gorman鈥慚urray (Western Sydney University) and will combine expertise in 17c起草社区 health, geography and inclusive community development.
Together with Rainbow Health Australia, the team will adapt the e organisational change program for local governments, with the aim of translating their research findings into tangible tools for councils. Rainbow Health Australia have existed for over fifteen years and describe themselves as “a program that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) health and wellbeing through research and knowledge translation, training, resources, policy advice and service accreditation through the Rainbow Tick.”
鈥淭his project responds to growing demand from local councils for evidence and guidance on 17c起草社区 inclusion, and will deliver tangible outcomes that improve wellbeing not only for 17c起草社区 residents, but for communities as a whole,鈥� Dr Grant said.
Current data show that 17c起草社区 people living in outer suburban areas are more at risk of poor mental health and social isolation than those in inner-city areas.
The new project offers hope for shifting that trend by delivering strategies designed for the places many queer people call home.
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